Another Wednesday UEFA Cup match between Werder Bremen and St Etienne ended with the same 2:2 draw. The Germans advanced on aggregate (3:2) into the ¼ finals.
Werder Bremen solved all their problems as early as in the first half: they were 2:0 in the lead by the 27th minute, with goals from Sebastian Prodl and Claudio Pizarro (pictured). The goal of the Peruvian international was a spectacular one; header in a dramatic dive that sent the ball into the net after a cross from the left wing. Pizarro earned 12.81 rating points in the game, and his now tops the ratings of all Peruvian players, at 122.43 points. Prodl gleaned 9.09 points, to take his rating to 56.72 points.
St Etienne in the second half put more pressure on the Germans and were able to level the game and save face: first central defender Yohan Bernalouane demonstrated that he too can play well with the head when he pulled one back to make it 2:1. The initiative from then one was on the French team’s side, but attempts by Bafetimbi Gomis and David Sauget all proved unsuccessful.
Finally, Sebastian Grax had the equalizer in injury time. Verder advanced to the quarter-finals thanks to its 1:0 victory in the first leg in Germany.
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